IMPORTANT new oil finds have been declared on block 15 offshore Angola that clear the way to investment in a new production centre – the so-called Western Hub.
The 15/06 Nzanza-1 and Cinguvu-1 wells are located about 350km north-west of Luanda in 1,400m (4,600ft) water depth.
Both successfully reached the objectives in the Lower Miocene targets, where oil-pay sands with good reservoir characteristics were encountered.
Nzanza-1 and Cinguvu-1 reached a total depth of 3,008m (9,868ft) and 3,023m (9,918ft), respectively.
According to operator Eni, during production tests, Nzanza-1 produced an 18-degree API oil at rates above 1,600 barrels per day. Analysis of the results indicates a potential for future production wells in excess of 5,000bpd per well, if artificial lift is applied.
Cinguvu-1 reached a flow of 6,400bpd of 23-degree API oil. The test was constrained by the equipment available.
Nzanza-1 and Cinguvu-1 follow on from the recent Cabaça Norte-1c success, so bringing the tally to three consecutive oil discoveries made on the block last year, and five in total since 2008, when the Sangos and N’Goma finds are counted in. Eni is the operator of block 15/06 and the Nzanza-1 and Cinguvu-1 discoveries with 35% working interest. State-owned Sonangol E&P is the concessionaire, while Eni’s partners in the block and wells are SSI Fifteen (20%), Sonangol E&P (15%), Total (15%), Falcon Oil Holding Angola (5%), Petrobras (5%) and Statoil (5%).
According to Total, the partners will continue with further 15/06 exploration drilling this year, the objective being to secure the resources that will “support the sanctioning” of a second production hub in the north-east area of the block.
For Statoil, its 5% involvement in block 15/06 is seen as very important to building the company’s understanding of its offshore Angola acreage.
Global exploration VP Tim Dodson said in a statement: “A thorough understanding of the deepwater reservoir is critical for continued exploration success in Angola as we move to more challenging exploration targets that can add new volumes around potential producing hubs in our prolific blocks, 15, 17 and 31, as well as blocks 4 and 15/06.
“So far this year, six of 11 wells in Angola have encountered hydrocarbons that should contribute to production.
“I am very pleased with these results and I am convinced that this prolific basin will continue to deliver significant volumes to Statoil for many years to come.”
Block 15 is destined to provide feedstock to the Angola LNG project, which involves construction of a liquefaction plant near Soyo.